Chapter 10
Kaelyn and I are sunbathing. Or I should say I am sunbathing; Kaelyn is talking – nonstop, for the past half an hour. Here’s a short summary of what she’s been talking about.
10:05am
Kaelyn: Tu, can you please help me apply a bit more sun block on my back? I don’t want to get burnt. You know how ugly I look when I get burnt. Remember the last time… … … (blah blah blah, you don’t need to know about the last time, trust me!)
Me: Hm…
10:10am
Kaelyn: Mmmm, this is absolute bliss, don’t you agree, Tu? Blue blue skies, powder-fine sand, water so clear you can see straight through to the bottom, and phew, did you notice all the gorgeous gorgeous bodies on display? Yumm!
Me: Hm… yeah, I know.
10:18am
Kaelyn: Hey Tu, check this out! My star sign says that romance is definitely heading my way this week! I’ve always wondered what a holiday fling would be like!
Me: Hm… that’s great, Lyn.
Kaelyn: Yeah, isn’t it? Did you notice that really cute guy at breakfast this morning? I ran into him twice at the pancakes table, and he didn’t look Asian. Did you see him?
Me: Hm… no.
10:25am
Kaelyn: I think I’m getting burnt. Maybe we should get into the shade now?
Me: (sighs and rolls my eyes) Girl, you have half a tube of sun block on your back, I’m not surprise if you actually gets fairer after this trip. Now, would you just shut up so I can do some serious tanning?
Kaelyn: (opens mouth but no sound comes out)
Yup, I am finally on a holiday, never mind that it is in fact a company-departmental trip (which, may I add, has been postponed due to reasons labeled P&C), and the organizers had enthusiastically arranged activities and games for every other hour and we are all expected to participate. The key point here is that I AM ON HOLIDAY!! So, why then, you may ask, is Kaelyn with me, since she and I don’t work at the same company at all!?
Well, you see, my good friend can be quite sentimental, which under most circumstances, can actually a good thing. When she heard that our department and Finance’s will be going for a 3 days 2 nights trip to Redang Island, and that our team and two others have taken a couple of days off to stay on till end of the week, Kaelyn grabbed my hand and started jumping up and down like a five year old.
“Tu! Do you realize that it’s been ages since we last went on a holiday together? When was the last time? Can you remember? You can’t right? What I have in my memory is you and me on our school trip to Cameron Highlands – it’s been that long! I think we should do this together, since I’ve not been to Redang anyway… Can we? Can we?”
And that was how Lyn ended up with me on my company holiday. I’m sort of regretting my decision now, though.
“Good morning, girls! Up early to start on the tan? Quite a bit to cover, isn’t there?”
I should have expected; interruptions are inevitable, at work or at play. But this particular intrusion also happen to come with long silky hair, perfect make up (water proof, of course) already golden-tanned skin thanks to weekly solarium visits, killer-curves not covered by the white bikini which is a size too small, and an accent from god-knows-where.
The unbearable screechy drawl continues, its volume increasing with each word. “Well I would have been up earlier, if it hasn’t been for Jason, who refuses to let me jump out of bed early. That silly fellow; he said we don’t cuddle enough, and so we ended up being late for breakfast, as you can imagine.” The narration stops, probably expecting a response of sort, but Lyn and I just toss a tight smile in her general direction before turning away towards the sea. It’s a good thing we both have our sunglasses on; she wouldn’t have been able to withstand the eye-rolling dagger-shooting gaze we are actually giving her. Sensing a lack of interest, but still needing to put in a last word, she sighs dramatically before saying, “So, I guess I should find myself a spot, if there’s any left at all, and catch up on the tanning, eh? Well then, later girls!”
As we wave off the retreating form with great relief, Lyn points out that not one part of the body jiggles, even as the hips are forcefully swayed from side to side across the sand. I shush her, and try really hard to relax and think of nothing, which is the major objective of this holiday. But my boss’s 25 year old wife has totally spoilt it for me now. The image of stern, solemn, no-nonsense Jason who’s already in his mid fifties, with a receding hairline, growing paunch and hairy chest, asking his Supermodel-wannabe wife half his age for morning cuddles – yikes! I really need to get that out of my head!
.......................................................................♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
I must have fallen asleep. When I open my eyes again, the sun is high and bright, the skin on my tummy is beginning to burn, and Kaelyn is no where to be seen. I grab the tube of After Sun and smear a big dollop on my hot skin. Then I reach for my Coppertone SPF 35 and search around for Lyn again. I need her help to cover my back with sun block; I don’t want to look like an octopus with too-short tentacles while trying to reach behind me.
I finally spot her at the beachside bar, in her green bikini top and a sarong wrap, deep in conversation with a dark hair man wearing beach shorts and sunglasses. She leans closer to say something, and the man throws his head back laughing. He looks some what familiar, but it’s hard to tell from this distant. Well, I don’t think Lyn will be available anytime soon to help me with my sun block.
“Hey gorgeous, you look troubled. Come, tell uncle Ean what’s bothering your pretty head.”
I turn back around to find “uncle” Ean plopping himself down onto the bottom half of my beach mat. Like most guys on the beach, he wears a t-shirt, broad shorts, thong slippers and a pair of sunglasses. He also spots an Addidas cap for extra shading from the sun.
“Hi uncle, you don’t look ready to hit the surf. Taking it slow today?”
“Yeah,” Ean leans back on his elbows, “stayed up late last night drinking with a few of the Finance boys, and had a hard time waking up this morning. Maybe I’m really getting old?” He grins and I reply with a small laugh.
“Hm, maybe.”
Ean tilts his head back to get a better look of me, his eyebrow arching over the frame of his sunglasses. “Really?”
He sounds worried, and I had to laugh again. “No! Of course not!” I shove him playfully on the shoulder and then nod at the group of girls sitting nearby. “They’ve been ogling you ever since you sat your butt down.”
Ean makes a face. “Ogle. You make me sound like some hot shot on display.”
“Well, you are! To some, anyway,” I add, “don’t you know what most of the girls at the office who are under 30, and some over 35, thinks of you?”
“I can’t be bothered with what they think, really. However,” he tilts his head back again, and I can’t stop my heart from doing a tiny flip when a boyish grin spreads across his handsome face. “I do care about what you think.”
My throat has turned dry suddenly. “Uh, about what?” About you? Well, I think a lot about you, but if it’s possible, I hope you’ll never find out!
“Oh, about anything and everything. But let’s start with what caused you to frown and look so thoughtful just now. You’re not thinking about the project are you? Because I forbid you to think about work this week, even if it’s your first solo project and there’s a promotion promise hanging at the end of it.”
Less than a week ago, Julianne handed me a folder containing a new investment planning project and told me that Jason and herself had had a discussion, and thinks that I’m ready to take on more responsibilities. At the end of the project, they want to sit down with me and talk about my “development plans”, was how she put it. Ean translates that as getting a promotion, a pay rise, and maybe even an assistant. Of course that got me into a hype, which resulted in working till midnight 3 consecutive days prior to leaving for Redang, and Ean and Lyn had to physically remove me from the office and strap me into my seat, or we might have miss the flight and the beautiful beach and surf altogether.
“I wasn’t thinking about work, but thanks for reminding me just when I’ve finally managed not to think about it at all since waking up this morning.” I give him a mock annoyed look before going on as-a-matter-of-factly. “I was just worried about getting an uneven tan, and was looking around for Lyn to help apply more sun block on my back.”
The boyish grin is back. “Hey, now that I can help.” Before I can say anything, he took the bottle of Coppertone from me and sits up. I must have a horrified look on my face, for he adds, “I did spend four years in Queensland surrounded by beach babes who constantly needs help applying sun blocks – in fact, my friends and I even considered setting up a sun block-applying service during the summer season and earn some extra cash; it sounded quite promising then.”
“Yeah? I can imagine.”
Ean waves away my condescending reply and guides me onto the mat so that I’m lying on my stomach, with my back to him. I sense rather than see him squeeze the lotion onto his palm, place the bottle down near my arms, and then kneels down beside me. I didn’t realize that I have tensed up with anticipation of the contact until I feel him ruffling my hair playfully.
“Relax, Princess! I promise to be gentle.”
I bunch my hair up in one hand to get it out of his way and at the same time give him what I hope is a relaxed, carefree smile. He winks back. But my smile slips immediately when I feel him untying the strings of my bikini top.
“Ean, I think –"
“No, don’t think. Just lie back and enjoy the ride.”
It is at the tip of my tongue to shoot back a sassy reply, but somewhere at the back of my mind a rein appears and pulls me up short. There is a pause, and then something inside me clicks. I can’t really explain what, how or why, but it feels like an unspoken assurance passes between us. It is hot and cold, light and heavy, calm and exciting all at the same time. And as if someone is guiding me, I lie back, and relinquish myself – to the moment, or to Ean? – I don’t really care. For now, anyway.
10:05am
Kaelyn: Tu, can you please help me apply a bit more sun block on my back? I don’t want to get burnt. You know how ugly I look when I get burnt. Remember the last time… … … (blah blah blah, you don’t need to know about the last time, trust me!)
Me: Hm…
10:10am
Kaelyn: Mmmm, this is absolute bliss, don’t you agree, Tu? Blue blue skies, powder-fine sand, water so clear you can see straight through to the bottom, and phew, did you notice all the gorgeous gorgeous bodies on display? Yumm!
Me: Hm… yeah, I know.
10:18am
Kaelyn: Hey Tu, check this out! My star sign says that romance is definitely heading my way this week! I’ve always wondered what a holiday fling would be like!
Me: Hm… that’s great, Lyn.
Kaelyn: Yeah, isn’t it? Did you notice that really cute guy at breakfast this morning? I ran into him twice at the pancakes table, and he didn’t look Asian. Did you see him?
Me: Hm… no.
10:25am
Kaelyn: I think I’m getting burnt. Maybe we should get into the shade now?
Me: (sighs and rolls my eyes) Girl, you have half a tube of sun block on your back, I’m not surprise if you actually gets fairer after this trip. Now, would you just shut up so I can do some serious tanning?
Kaelyn: (opens mouth but no sound comes out)
Yup, I am finally on a holiday, never mind that it is in fact a company-departmental trip (which, may I add, has been postponed due to reasons labeled P&C), and the organizers had enthusiastically arranged activities and games for every other hour and we are all expected to participate. The key point here is that I AM ON HOLIDAY!! So, why then, you may ask, is Kaelyn with me, since she and I don’t work at the same company at all!?
Well, you see, my good friend can be quite sentimental, which under most circumstances, can actually a good thing. When she heard that our department and Finance’s will be going for a 3 days 2 nights trip to Redang Island, and that our team and two others have taken a couple of days off to stay on till end of the week, Kaelyn grabbed my hand and started jumping up and down like a five year old.
“Tu! Do you realize that it’s been ages since we last went on a holiday together? When was the last time? Can you remember? You can’t right? What I have in my memory is you and me on our school trip to Cameron Highlands – it’s been that long! I think we should do this together, since I’ve not been to Redang anyway… Can we? Can we?”
And that was how Lyn ended up with me on my company holiday. I’m sort of regretting my decision now, though.
“Good morning, girls! Up early to start on the tan? Quite a bit to cover, isn’t there?”
I should have expected; interruptions are inevitable, at work or at play. But this particular intrusion also happen to come with long silky hair, perfect make up (water proof, of course) already golden-tanned skin thanks to weekly solarium visits, killer-curves not covered by the white bikini which is a size too small, and an accent from god-knows-where.
The unbearable screechy drawl continues, its volume increasing with each word. “Well I would have been up earlier, if it hasn’t been for Jason, who refuses to let me jump out of bed early. That silly fellow; he said we don’t cuddle enough, and so we ended up being late for breakfast, as you can imagine.” The narration stops, probably expecting a response of sort, but Lyn and I just toss a tight smile in her general direction before turning away towards the sea. It’s a good thing we both have our sunglasses on; she wouldn’t have been able to withstand the eye-rolling dagger-shooting gaze we are actually giving her. Sensing a lack of interest, but still needing to put in a last word, she sighs dramatically before saying, “So, I guess I should find myself a spot, if there’s any left at all, and catch up on the tanning, eh? Well then, later girls!”
As we wave off the retreating form with great relief, Lyn points out that not one part of the body jiggles, even as the hips are forcefully swayed from side to side across the sand. I shush her, and try really hard to relax and think of nothing, which is the major objective of this holiday. But my boss’s 25 year old wife has totally spoilt it for me now. The image of stern, solemn, no-nonsense Jason who’s already in his mid fifties, with a receding hairline, growing paunch and hairy chest, asking his Supermodel-wannabe wife half his age for morning cuddles – yikes! I really need to get that out of my head!
.......................................................................♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
I must have fallen asleep. When I open my eyes again, the sun is high and bright, the skin on my tummy is beginning to burn, and Kaelyn is no where to be seen. I grab the tube of After Sun and smear a big dollop on my hot skin. Then I reach for my Coppertone SPF 35 and search around for Lyn again. I need her help to cover my back with sun block; I don’t want to look like an octopus with too-short tentacles while trying to reach behind me.
I finally spot her at the beachside bar, in her green bikini top and a sarong wrap, deep in conversation with a dark hair man wearing beach shorts and sunglasses. She leans closer to say something, and the man throws his head back laughing. He looks some what familiar, but it’s hard to tell from this distant. Well, I don’t think Lyn will be available anytime soon to help me with my sun block.
“Hey gorgeous, you look troubled. Come, tell uncle Ean what’s bothering your pretty head.”
I turn back around to find “uncle” Ean plopping himself down onto the bottom half of my beach mat. Like most guys on the beach, he wears a t-shirt, broad shorts, thong slippers and a pair of sunglasses. He also spots an Addidas cap for extra shading from the sun.
“Hi uncle, you don’t look ready to hit the surf. Taking it slow today?”
“Yeah,” Ean leans back on his elbows, “stayed up late last night drinking with a few of the Finance boys, and had a hard time waking up this morning. Maybe I’m really getting old?” He grins and I reply with a small laugh.
“Hm, maybe.”
Ean tilts his head back to get a better look of me, his eyebrow arching over the frame of his sunglasses. “Really?”
He sounds worried, and I had to laugh again. “No! Of course not!” I shove him playfully on the shoulder and then nod at the group of girls sitting nearby. “They’ve been ogling you ever since you sat your butt down.”
Ean makes a face. “Ogle. You make me sound like some hot shot on display.”
“Well, you are! To some, anyway,” I add, “don’t you know what most of the girls at the office who are under 30, and some over 35, thinks of you?”
“I can’t be bothered with what they think, really. However,” he tilts his head back again, and I can’t stop my heart from doing a tiny flip when a boyish grin spreads across his handsome face. “I do care about what you think.”
My throat has turned dry suddenly. “Uh, about what?” About you? Well, I think a lot about you, but if it’s possible, I hope you’ll never find out!
“Oh, about anything and everything. But let’s start with what caused you to frown and look so thoughtful just now. You’re not thinking about the project are you? Because I forbid you to think about work this week, even if it’s your first solo project and there’s a promotion promise hanging at the end of it.”
Less than a week ago, Julianne handed me a folder containing a new investment planning project and told me that Jason and herself had had a discussion, and thinks that I’m ready to take on more responsibilities. At the end of the project, they want to sit down with me and talk about my “development plans”, was how she put it. Ean translates that as getting a promotion, a pay rise, and maybe even an assistant. Of course that got me into a hype, which resulted in working till midnight 3 consecutive days prior to leaving for Redang, and Ean and Lyn had to physically remove me from the office and strap me into my seat, or we might have miss the flight and the beautiful beach and surf altogether.
“I wasn’t thinking about work, but thanks for reminding me just when I’ve finally managed not to think about it at all since waking up this morning.” I give him a mock annoyed look before going on as-a-matter-of-factly. “I was just worried about getting an uneven tan, and was looking around for Lyn to help apply more sun block on my back.”
The boyish grin is back. “Hey, now that I can help.” Before I can say anything, he took the bottle of Coppertone from me and sits up. I must have a horrified look on my face, for he adds, “I did spend four years in Queensland surrounded by beach babes who constantly needs help applying sun blocks – in fact, my friends and I even considered setting up a sun block-applying service during the summer season and earn some extra cash; it sounded quite promising then.”
“Yeah? I can imagine.”
Ean waves away my condescending reply and guides me onto the mat so that I’m lying on my stomach, with my back to him. I sense rather than see him squeeze the lotion onto his palm, place the bottle down near my arms, and then kneels down beside me. I didn’t realize that I have tensed up with anticipation of the contact until I feel him ruffling my hair playfully.
“Relax, Princess! I promise to be gentle.”
I bunch my hair up in one hand to get it out of his way and at the same time give him what I hope is a relaxed, carefree smile. He winks back. But my smile slips immediately when I feel him untying the strings of my bikini top.
“Ean, I think –"
“No, don’t think. Just lie back and enjoy the ride.”
It is at the tip of my tongue to shoot back a sassy reply, but somewhere at the back of my mind a rein appears and pulls me up short. There is a pause, and then something inside me clicks. I can’t really explain what, how or why, but it feels like an unspoken assurance passes between us. It is hot and cold, light and heavy, calm and exciting all at the same time. And as if someone is guiding me, I lie back, and relinquish myself – to the moment, or to Ean? – I don’t really care. For now, anyway.
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